Your entire belief in rationality and logic is based on the premise that your thinking is sequential and it follows a pattern. This is a lie.

The buddhists say that the mind is a monkey. That’s very true. Your thoughts are not sequential. Your thoughts are independent of each other. They are not connected. They are illogical and irrational. They are like the bubbles in a fish tank which appear connected; but there is no connection between one bubble and another. They are all independent.

While we see where Nithyananda is trying to go with this, we think it's still just a little bit off, probably due to language issues. Dr. Dan Berkow offers a similar, yet significantly different explanation:

It's like a movie, where there are still picture frames, but because one is rapidly juxtaposed upon another, it creates the impression of people moving in space, etc.

As long as enough emotional and psychological attachment, response, preoccupation is generated, the impression of a "self" is maintained "as if."

Movies are individual frames in sequence. This suggests a sequential aspect to the generation of the idea of "me", as Ramakrishna used to call it. We find this to be self-evident from the regard of the individual point of view.

Despite this small flubble, we're coming to regard Nithyananda as a welcome addition in an arena full of Sri Sris and Krackis, as the radical re-editing of this entry has demonstrated.

104 Comments:

a Vivekananda impersonator with all the looks but apparently none of the brains

But he sure do look purdy, don't he?

Jealous, are we? What does Nithyananda's physical appearance have anything to do with his message? Although, since American society is so obsessed with appearances, it is understandable that when you don't have any other substantial grounds on which to attack, you choose this flimsy approach.

Regarding your pooh-poohing the PET scan brain activity findings, perhaps you ought to read this research, conducted at the University of Pennsylvania, no less, which reiterates the findings of increased frontal lobe activity (associated with the higher cerebral functions of intelligence, attention, and judgement) seen in deep meditation, or samadhi, similar to what was noted during PET scan studies performed at the Department of Neuropsychology at the INTEGRIS Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Hospital, on Nithyananda's brain.

Hey, perhaps you ought to volunteer to have these studies performed on your own drug addled brain. I'm sure the findings will be equally astounding!

The illusion of identity is in the tying together of the sequence, not in the sequential nature of thought itself.

That article was a transcript of a talk that Nithyananda gave, and is missing the real gist of what was said. If you had been present, you would have heard for yourself that he made precisely the very point that you make in a vain attempt to prove your Advaitic knowledge. Here's one quote from a talk in that series:

"Each thought arises in him and dies before the next thought comes. But he tries to connect similar thoughts and form shafts of either pain or pleasure and because of this he suffers. Clutching onto this shaft is the "original sin". This clutching is the root cause that is preventing man from experiencing the liberated or enlightened state while living on planet Earth. To be un-clutched from this shaft at all times is the greatest liberation for man."

Sri Nit is a young 'en, so we can understand the impetus to make blind stabs that seem to mimic what he's read.

I can assure you, he has spent far less time reading and filling his mind with words about Advaita than you have. Unlike you, his words come from his direct experience of Advaitic reality.

But he appears to need a few years on his bones before he really gets where the mind is at and the relationship between thought and illusory identity.

Chronological age is no indicator of wisdom. You need to get off your pseudo-guru high-horse, jody.

Here's a challenge I offer you. Come to Los Angeles, and engage Nithyananda in Advaitic debate. Or a debate in any other spiritual matter of your choice, including your hardened beliefs about Gurus and how they foster occlusion. He encourages people to question him. Don't take stabs at him while hiding behind your pseudo-intellectual stance on your blog without testing him thoroughly in person.

Too bad it's just another simple cult of personality and shameless self-promotion by way of exploiting the belief in human divinity. Please don't be fooled by it.

Accept my invitation above, if you are truly serious about doing your readers a service and exposing the charlatans. You will see the truth for yourself (provided, of course, that you don't project your own blind occlusive ideas onto him.)

What you are doing here is showing your cowardice by just mocking the Gurus. If you are couragious enough lets begin a debate on this topic "Importance of a Guru for Self Realization". I believe that you have an idea that no Guru is required for self realization.

With absolutely nil knowledge of advaita vedanta, you are writing utter blulshit here maligning all gurus. Such nonsense should not be tolerated. Either you bring down this blog or debate with me.

By doing Guru-Dvesh you are doing Brahma-Hatya. Advaita Vedanta aims at realizing brahman. Here you are mocking at Brahman itself - The GURU. What a fool you are....

What you are doing here is showing your cowardice by just mocking the Gurus.

Uh oh. I see that the swami has sent in the troops.

I believe that you have an idea that no Guru is required for self realization.

I know of cases where no guru was present. But quoting the Shastras will prove nothing.

I'm not saying the swami isn't realized and I'm not saying the swami wouldn't make a good guru. I'm saying the swami is making a ridiculous, but entirely expected presentation of himself as an example of realization. The word we use here is stereotype.

With absolutely nil knowledge of advaita vedanta,

Your seeming inability to recognize I might know of what I speak is expected.

maligning all gurus.

Gross exaggeration noted.

Advaita Vedanta aims at realizing brahman

You don't say!

Here you are mocking at Brahman itself - The GURU. What a fool you are...

I'm also mocking Brahman in the form of the "Guruphiliac-Annihilator", who is every bit as much Brahman as the swami. Not a single, tiny, itty-bitty bit less.

Let the swami himself read these conversations. Let's see what he has to say about all this directly.

It has everything to do with his packaging, which is "handsome young Indian godman comes to show us the light"... for the millionth time.

He himself publicly acknowledges his own amusement at being packaged thus. He doesn't take it seriously either.

So what? He's another person who has samadhi. I know plenty of folk like that. But none of them are touring the country touting themselves over it.

He doesn't tout it. In fact, he has already announced that he is going to stop touring from next year. He is not really interested in becoming a celebrity, contrary to what you seem inclined to believe.

I'm not saying he doesn't know, I'm saying he's cheesy in his presentation of himself.

He has only been speaking in English for the past three years. Cut him some slack, will ya?

No more vain than the brain-wave state bragging dandy that you are presently attempting to defend.

Not attempting to defend, merely pointing to the fact that there was selective omission of facts on your part.

Your speculation about my state of understanding noted. I'd never expect you to believe otherwise.

That was said in a mocking tone. I hope you could discern that. You could be fully realized, for all I know; I don't really care.

Actually, it [chronilogical age as an index of wisdom] rather is. There's no substitute for life experience.

Your opinion is noted. I assume Shankara too must have been a freak of nature to have been a realized jnani at age 21.

I'm not saying he's a charlatan, I'm saying he's promoting himself in a stereotypical manner that is antiquated and possibly detrimental to the ongoing enterprise of his devotees' own understanding.

You implied he was a charlatan, or at the very least that he has little of substance in his approach.

all that really needs to happen is for the swami to come online and explain himself directly.

This is 2006. We do this sort of thing all the time now.

Nithyananda personally answers emails addressed to him. You can find the address on the website. However, it is likely that if you approach him with arrogance, he will ignore your questions.

I believe that you have an idea that no Guru is required for self realization.

I know of cases where no guru was present. But quoting the Shastras will prove nothing.

No physical manifestation of a Guru was present. Be very clear. Guru is a principle and not a person. My God, you dont even know that.

I'm not saying the swami isn't realized and I'm not saying the swami wouldn't make a good guru. I'm saying the swami is making a ridiculous, but entirely expected presentation of himself as an example of realization. The word we use here is stereotype.

So now you will decide how a physical manifestation of a Guru should behave. Why dont you write a book "Code and Conduct for Gurus"

With absolutely nil knowledge of advaita vedanta,

Your seeming inability to recognize I might know of what I speak is expected.

maligning all gurus.

Gross exaggeration noted.

Fool. You dont understand that by maligning a single guru you have maligned all gurus. If lets say even one guru whom you have maligned is a realized person, then you have maligned all gurus. Guru is not an individual but the ultimate expression of that single truth. Ofcourse you wont know that

Advaita Vedanta aims at realizing brahman

You don't say!

Here you are mocking at Brahman itself - The GURU. What a fool you are...

I'm also mocking Brahman in the form of the "Guruphiliac-Annihilator", who is every bit as much Brahman as the swami. Not a single, tiny, itty-bitty bit less.

Let the swami himself read these conversations. Let's see what he has to say about all this directly.

He himself publicly acknowledges his own amusement at being packaged thus. He doesn't take it seriously either.

That's good to hear. I wonder why he doesn't do anything about it. If you asked for my advice, I stay start by showing how much the swami is just like everyone else, rather than try to make a big deal about his supposed specialness.

He has only been speaking in English for the past three years. Cut him some slack, will ya?

I have been.

He doesn't tout [his brain states].

His website does. It's the same thing in this country.

You could be fully realized, for all I know; I don't really care.

Then why call my qualification to comment into question?

I assume Shankara too must have been a freak of nature to have been a realized jnani at age 21.

That's legend–not historical fact. But even if it is, the old Shankara knew a whole lot more about the world than the young one.

Not attempting to defend, merely pointing to the fact that there was selective omission of facts on your part.

Not on my part, but on part of the blog where I found the quote. I quoted from there in its entirety.

You implied he was a charlatan, or at the very least that he has little of substance in his approach.

That's what you read into it. I'm just commenting in the manner that many bloggers employ. Make a little fun and then make your point by counter-example.

The swami sounds like a swell guy. Perhaps he'd be quite amused by all of this. If he were, it would go a long way to establishing his credentials as a guru.

However, it is likely that if you approach him with arrogance, he will ignore your questions.

I have no need to approach him. I'm just doing my thing, finding things online to comment about, thereby extending the idea that expectations about self-realization–which your swami appears to be contributing to–are one the main things getting in the way of that understanding.

If you are doing this to save your readers from getting duped by a fake guru.......then you ought to be doing a better job.....

I'm doing this to let folks know that self-realization has nothing to do with ideas of special human divinity. Your swami appears to be marketing himself as an example of special human divinity. Therefore, I comment.

Without experiencing, or without even meeting HIM in person, you are wasting your time and energy and of ur readers.

I know some of my readers are entertained. Hopefully one or two will be educated, too.

Since you have freedom of speech here.....you are just ABUSING it the wrong way.

It's the American way. Your opinion about it is noted.

Instead of being of any help to your readers......if at all thats what u r tryin to do........you are just plain misleading everyone.

Sigh... I just can't expect everyone to understand what's going on here, can I?

All readers beware of the contents on this site.........as everything said here sounds to be only elevating JODY to be a guru...

Nope. Nothing special or divine about me. I present myself as a guru critic. Any elevation to that is all on you, friend.

Looks like JODY wants to become everyone's guru.....after maligning all other gurus.

More gross exaggeration noted.

I'm just a guy fed up with all the crazy ideas floating out there about self-realization. Your swami's presentation of himself leads me to believe he is contributing to those ideas. That is the only reason I choose to comment about him, despite your expectations otherwise.

While many assume otherwise, I am not attacking the concept of guru. I am attacking the idea that guru automatically means special and divine. We are all equally divine... and self-realization does not make us special.

Jody,I appreciate your efforts to be critical of what you come across.

Had i been an onlooker, i too would have (probably) felt similarly. However, having recently experienced Nithyananda's humility and *presence*, i do feel that your concerns are not true. I hope readers will judge for themselves, too.

If i recall, even Ramana was not entirely comfortable with how things happened in the ashram, or how he was treated. But he said very little. People barricaded him, brahmins tried to have a separate kitchen, they made Him sit on a chair and table, they even forced Him to be treated in the end for cancer.Ramana was neither attached nor averse to all this.

I have actually seen Swamy Nithyananda criticing people close to him for elevating him, he doesnt like outward shows of respect, hype, etc. He does not like people being attached to him or dependent on him.He has never asked for anything in return. In your jargon, i would say, "He walks his talk".

And, oh by the way, he is very respectful of other gurus, like the Buddha, Ramana, Siva and many others :-)

Even the Buddha wanted to help as many people as He could to enlightenment, with whatever means He had. Luckily, today we have internet etc to help us, so i can't fault a jnani with using this media to help others (even you do!).

However, having recently experienced Nithyananda's humility and *presence*

When people start talking about "presence", I get nervous. Presence is something that can be learned and worked. It has nothing to do with realization.

i do feel that your concerns are not true. I hope readers will judge for themselves, too.

I can appreciate that the Swami is a good guy doing good works. It's how he is being presented that is not good. We don't need paramahamsas, we need ordinary men and women who happen to be self-realized.

I'm sure there's one of those in the Swami somewhere.

Ramana was neither attached nor averse to all this.

Maybe he was just lazy.

I'm kidding, sort of. Ramana was an exceptional jnani, but that doesn't mean he was always right within the context of the events around him.

I have actually seen Swamy Nithyananda criticing people close to him for elevating him, he doesnt like outward shows of respect, hype, etc. He does not like people being attached to him or dependent on him.He has never asked for anything in return. In your jargon, i would say, "He walks his talk".

This is all very good news. Now if he could just take it to the next level and present himself as just another one of us.

And, oh by the way, he is very respectful of other gurus, like the Buddha, Ramana, Siva and many others :-)

I guess that puts him well up on me.

Even the Buddha wanted to help as many people as He could to enlightenment, with whatever means He had. Luckily, today we have internet etc to help us, so i can't fault a jnani with using this media to help others (even you do!).

Nor I. But I can find fault with the presentation, insofar as it establishes a set of expectations about self-realization in the minds of the devotees.

I appreciate all of Swami's fans coming here to tell us about him. These comments stand as additional information about the gurus I comment on. People will get the right idea about him yet perhaps understand why I still have some issues with the way he is being portrayed online.

Jody: When people start talking about "presence", I get nervous. Presence is something that can be learned and worked. It has nothing to do with realization.

Jody, when i mentioned "presence", i did not mean clothing, presentation, words, sense of humor or stuff like that. I have once previously experienced that kind of "built up" hype in another guru, (whom i neednt mention since you have given him so much coverage!) so i am extremely watchful about such stuff.

My first reaction, thus, to Nithyananda, was "hey, this is so underhyped (compared to xxx)!"

I purposely left "presence" unexplained thinking that you wd figure that i meant similar to the presence people felt in Ramana - their minds going silent, and experiencing the same (or nearly, i guess) state as the jnani himself.

Perhaps you will say that the no-mind/awareness state was only in his presence, so it doesnt count, or even that it was my mind building the whole thing up... i have reasons to believe that if that were the case, it would have happened with the other 2 "handsome jnanis" whose presence i strongly feel, but it didn't! In any case, i too am not attached or hungry for such experiences.

Being no jnani myself, i can neither support nor criticize him, or speak for him. Btw, When i say "he does not like" etc, that is my interpretation.

This is all very good news. Now if he could just take it to the next level and present himself as just another one of us.

Again, that is what i have experienced at the ashram. He has said that he is a nobody. His actions and life actually stand by this statement - it is unfortunate that his website gives another impression.

Also, the article that you quoted was highly excerpted from a talk, for some newspaper that takes only 150-200 words. Some of those articles are IMHO for very simple audiences.

I believe that there is an initiative to put all his talks online (in text format) so that all may read what he says. Hopefully, you will go through his talks and judge for yourself whether his substance outweighs his (acco to you, handsome) form!

Your idea that Guru should present himself as an ordinary person is not acceptable because you have made this idea about him. He has no such notion about himself. So where lies the fault. Him or you.A guru may present himself anyway. Who are you to make a judgement. You are making a concept about him. Fault lies in the subject making opinions about the object and not in the characteristics of the object.If you seriously believe that he is enlightened then you must obviously understand that he does not carry any notion about himself being this or that. If you dont believe he is enlightened then no point discussing, the basic premise gets shaken.

Sorry for hijacking this post...but i'm trying to get hold of On The Other Hand or Kalyani for some input for a story i'm doing on SSRS. I don't want to use their names, but needed some insight as i left after an interview with His Holiness with a very bad taste in my mouth.If you guys are reading this plz do blog on.Cheers

If you are living in India ,please be extremely careful.A huge chunk of poice force,lawyers,judges,politicians are all these charlatans' besotted 'devotees'.In the present state of corruption I wonder if there would be any Justice at all!

My inputs are there in those comments section about ssrs.OnTheOtherhand's ,Jody's,DontBull Me's I think would give a comprehensive idea.There is no doubt about it.he is a supercon and supershrewd too.

There is this French journalist cum devotee of ssrs called Francois Gautier,who has been repeatedly coming up with a scary,bizarre idea:-

That ssrs,ammachi,saibabaster and some more *gurus*,I have not heard of,should unite and "pass edicts" that would be binding on Hindus world over as according to people like him,"Hinduism is under threat"(sic).

Your idea that Guru should present himself as an ordinary person is not acceptable because you have made this idea about him.

Right. That's called an opinion.

We have two options: guru as a living god because s/he is enlightened, or guru is a normal person despite their being enlightened.

The former comes with a whole raft of ridiculous and completely erroneous ideas about self-realization which preventself-realization, the latter does not. Which is better for the devotees?

He has no such notion about himself.

You mean that he doesn't see himself as an ordinary person? That's too bad if true. Based on the words of others here, I was hoping that Swami would be able to see the importance of presenting himself as an ordinary man here.

So where lies the fault. Him or you.

Him, if he's trying to present himself as anything special.

A guru may present himself anyway. Who are you to make a judgement.

Just another asshole with an opinion about these matters.

You are making a concept about him. Fault lies in the subject making opinions about the object and not in the characteristics of the object.

Except when the "characteristics of the object" are nothing more than overblown legend-making and ludicrous superstitious nonsense.

If you seriously believe that he is enlightened then you must obviously understand that he does not carry any notion about himself being this or that.

You'd think so, until you visit the website and are presented with a paramahamsa, complete with holy light shining out of his eyes, etc.

If you dont believe he is enlightened then no point discussing, the basic premise gets shaken.

That ssrs,ammachi,saibabaster and some more *gurus*,I have not heard of,should unite and "pass edicts" that would be binding on Hindus world over as according to people like him,"Hinduism is under threat"(sic).

Ridiculous and insane. Gurus are not like the Pope. They can pass no edicts on anyone except their devotees. The Western disciples would bolt, and it would eventually come down to eyeball lightning. In other words, you would not find the agreement necessary between the gurus to ever manage such a thing.

Kalyani, are you saying that Francois Gautier is "sin"? I know about this person. A french journalist married to Indian woman and settled in India. He writes crappy articles in a Pro-hinduism newspaper called Rediff.

Hopefully, you will go through his talks and judge for yourself whether his substance outweighs his (acco to you, handsome) form!

Over here in the states, the form is most of the substance.

I appreciate your comments, Ananda, but paramahamsas are not what we need. The Swami may be the sweetest being, have the most humble nature and the most truthful message, but it's all undone by his presentation of himself as a special being with special powers (the "presence" you mention) due to the fact of his self-realization. His denial of this in word is not reflected in the fact of his marketing as it is currently presented. That's going to make him an ongoing target here. It's nothing personal against you or the Swami, but against those ideas which are generated by his org's presentation of him as especially divine due to self-realization.

He was pronounced a Paramahamsa by Mahavatar Babaji. He didn't choose to call himself that (nor did Ramakrishna or Yogananda or any of the others) - it's a title which refers to his lineage. Even so, he has dropped that title on all his books now,and simply goes by Nithyananda. As long as Paramahamsas fulfil their role in the cosmic drama, they will continue to exist. As remarked by Ananda, his organization's "marketing" helps fulfil his role. It's all a drama, anyway.

In the same talk I quoted above, he said to his audience at the end, very inspiringly, "Let you all become Paramahamsas! [liberated while in the world]" Inspiration is a good thing. Some people need a crutch first. Later, they are able to fly alone. Many I know who are close to him personally have moved beyond the image of him as "God" or "Guru", and have become free themselves. That is all that matters.

Are you saying that he has "many" self-realized devotees, or that they are so familiar with him now that they are free of the conventions of the guru/chela dyad?

I used the word "many", but to be perfectly honest, I am not sure about the exact number presently.

The former (self-realization) is definitely true about devotees that I am aware of (they choose not to announce it or display it in an overt manner).

The latter is true in at least the case of one close personal friend; it might be true in case of others, too, although I do not know. Some continue to work for him while still being realized - that is the role they enjoy playing.

The traditional Guru-chela relationship does not exist with him. The relationship is very relaxed, informal and free from morality or fear. He is like a dear friend more than anything else to those who choose to spend time with him.

Anyway I have said all there is to say. I wish you the very best, jody.

The traditional Guru-chela relationship does not exist with him. The relationship is very relaxed, informal and free from morality or fear. He is like a dear friend more than anything else to those who choose to spend time with him.

This is all more good news about the Swami.

Anyway I have said all there is to say. I wish you the very best, jody.

Thanks, Prajnanam. I've really enjoyed talking to all the Swami's devotees who have visited here.

However, I'm always going to a have a problem with his current presentation. This is the States, where the Swami is free to present himself however he wishes. But then, I'm also free to express my opinion about that. So there is probably a chance that I will be dealing with the Swami again as he pops up in the media. Please tell him I admire his humility and the decorum and restraint of his devotees. But I'm no fan of the image. I doubt I ever will be.

What a great series of posts! I never heard of this guy. I thought I'd heard of everyone. Maybe I've been avoiding for too long -- they said he'd only been speaking for 3 years..........haha

to 'Sin' -- You can type "Sri Sri Ravi Shankar" in the search section of this blog site and read all that I've written about him in those threads. Kalyani's will be there also. Also someone named 'loneranger' and 'dontbullme'.

Please do elaborate the type of interview you had with him that left such a bad taste in your mouth, as you put it.

...who has been dead for hundreds of years, if in fact he ever lived at all. "Babaji initiated/promoted/recognized me in a dream" is the instant-lineage-of-choice for a number of folks, like Marshall Govindan Satchidananda, who might be well-intentioned or might just be an unrealized hobbyist who decided to fund his retirement by claiming magic initiation and passing off a bunch of Bihar School of Yoga techniques as Tamil Tantra he learned in a dream...

I had the same feeling, and have not yet (nor will I) take the ever-so-delicious-sounding bait that some of these people have offered me to "go public", blah blah blah. They just want to find out who is who so they can launch an offensive. I know them too well.

"I had the same feeling, and have not yet (nor will I) take the ever-so-delicious-sounding bait that some of these people have offered me to "go public", blah blah blah. They just want to find out who is who so they can launch an offensive. I know them too well."

Don't know about this "sin" person or Rita... I may be a very bad guy, but I am certainly not a She She undercover agent.

Your self importance is showing. When I said you should go public, I wasn't really suggesting you talk to a big time reporter. I was saying "Sue the bastard!"

I don't know. Charging for classes to cover costs is one thing. Reaping huge profits a la the Kracki is another.

My problem with Nithyananda is his presentation of himself. It's a glamorization of self-realization rather than an elucidation. He may be the greatest swami to hit the States since Dayananda Saraswati, but Nithyananda's own image-making efforts have the effect of throwing mud on the diamond that his teaching could be.

He does not come here to americans. He comes to people who are are sincere seekers and and he forces them to the next level. You have to experience it with full submission. Each sentence when taken in the full context is wisdom including the illogical thoughts you said. Please post the authentic excerpt and then make any comments. Your thoughts are making you monkey and they are illogical as expresed in your writing.

Thanks Jody first for editor's note before the post.>>I'm not convinced there are levels... and I'm not sure anyone can force anything like self-realization. But you can maybe help it along.

self realization is a way beyond thing... I was talking about one's spiritual preparedness to go towards that realization. You are right it is eventually us who have to help ourselves in that pursuit. But there are turning points in one's quest and these points are bright landmarks of one's life. Some realize it with their guru because they prepare a background (like going to a free swami lecture for food but getting an additional sweet dessert of profound knowledge that changes the thinking); others may say it is God or their determination as they desired to be at that spiritual level and they did it. But we do see changes in the way we think with time at least with me and I say that a different level. You have to observe what you were two years back and now. If you still the same person keep this question open may be fore 5, 10, …more years.

>>>>Why? Can't you just be surrendered to God and consider the guru as your friend?

This is beautiful thought, though I had other point.

>>>I get the logic of what he's saying, but he's not saying it as clearly as he could, in my opinion. Probably due to language issues more than anything else.

You are probably right. But you have to just sit near him, his presence is more powerful than the words.

Under the influence of one of Nithyananda's outstanding devotees, I've radically re-edited this entry to reflect my feeling that maybe the guy is someone worth looking into.

But we do see changes in the way we think with time at least with me and I say that a different level. You have to observe what you were two years back and now. If you still the same person keep this question open may be fore 5, 10, …more years.

I'm a different person than I was yesterday. But we are talking of personal transformation. While it's true that such appears to be a progression of character and adaptation, we can never be any closer to who we already are, Brahman. People have the idea that there are levels of self-realization. I don't accept this. There is self-realization... and there are the continuing effects of that on the person. But there is no such thing as closer to realization here and farther away from it there, in my opinion.

You are probably right. But you have to just sit near him, his presence is more powerful than the words.

While I've become convinced about Nithyananda's authenticity, I still feel these types of "presence" feelings can be as much the projection of the devotee as it is some manifestation of guru's awareness. It's what people want to feel around there gurus, hence they do, probably at the behest of their own internal suggestions. But I hope to visit the guy and find out directly one day. I'll certainly report back if and when I do.

I am just discovering Nithyananda. I heard him on the vcd briefly and he was speaking verywell in Tamil, came across as unaffected speaking from experience. But then I fully agree with you that his appearance is sort of bizarre, tacky, kind of fancy dress if you will with lots of makeup. Reminds me ofSwami Narayan though, a figure very revered in Gujarat today. As an aside, the title "maharaj" is used for saints and kings alike. Sometimes for beggars too! His english is heavily accented and I tend to cringe a bit, find itdistracting I guess. Perhaps he is practicing for his long stints in the US.Amazing how all Gurus make a beeline forthe US so unerringly. There is a potof dollars at the end of the enlightenment rainbow.

As I said I have little personal experience of N, but his programshave so much of the Jaggi Vasudevin them (ASP, NSP vs Jaggis BSP).I also see very prominently on theirwebsite the work in Central Prison,Salem. Jaggi's prison work is alsowell advertised. So what is the deal?Also the programs have much ritualsin common. Do Guru's copy like this?! The Mahamantra humming ofNithyananda is well known in Yogaas the "Brahmri Pranayam". He attributes it to "Tibetan Budhism"and is perhaps central to his practice.

Maybe as I get more familiar I will understand better. Perhaps likeRajneesh's fleet of Rolls Roycecars and large diamonds we got tolook beyond the facade. But then,it is hard enough to look at one's selfso, and harder still to look at another.Sorry for the long post, my absolute first, dont know if it is going to sail into the void.

BEWARE Dear brothers & sisters, This man is a shame to Hinduism. He shamelessly prtrays himself as God, makes money out of mediciation. Worst of all, brainwashes brainwashes people including younsters to elope with him to his ashram quitting their study/career. Children can become violent and dispbedient and just want to run away to his ashram. He keeps people in a consstant state of depression and emotional abuse by asking them to cry all the times and medidtate about hoim all the times., think about him. People abroad, USA, Malaysia & Canada , be careful. He can ruin a family, which no hindu guru would even dream to do. This is the letter of an anguished parent from Canada who has lost a wonderful daughter, who has quit her studies, psychologically wrecked, depressed and totally disobedient, behaves violently and I fear everyday she would run away to this man's ashram. He can convert an angel to a devil, this evil monster. A shame to any Hindu Guru.angusihed parents from Canada------------

~::~ Paramahamsa Nithyananda is a fully realized Bramajnani sage of the highest order. Even Vivekananda dressed in bright saffron robes and finished his entire mission by the age 39 and left his body.

In the last India Kumba Mela Paramahamsa Nithyananda was honored as the youngest Guru of Gurus and given a title Mahamandeswar {sp}. Paramahamsa Nithyananda was given the honour and of being the first in leading the entire Kumba Mela procession to the Ganges to bathe and immerse the deities, by the Swami organizers of the 2007 Kumba Mela in India.

Paramahamsa Nithyananda never charges any money for his help, teachings, classes, healings etc. He says that he attained Realization freely and was never charged by his spiritual teachers... he says that he will charge nothing for spiritual things either.

Paramahamsa Nithyananda has completely cured many with terminal illnesses, chronic pain and psychological troubles. Any idiots who claim that he wears make~up are crazy. I am a life~long celibate initiated into Mantra~Diksha Brahmacharya within the Ramakrishna Order in 1977... and was the personal attendant to my Guru until he left his body in 1996. Often not even 6 persons attend the USA Ramakrishna Order's free lectures. I could tell of many reasons why this is so. ~~~ I have *never* experienced any being such as the spiritually illumined Paramahamsa Nithyananda... his wisdom and the spiritual bliss power and blessings that radiate from him are beyond all imagination.

Paramahamsa Nityananda has also started a type of Kumba Mela here in the USA... on September 9, 2007 he headed a Kumba Mela in Southern California. Swamis and their devotees from many Orders attended from around the world. Ramakrishna Order swamis were overcome by his spiritual presence and pranamed at Paramahamsa Nityananda's feet. The first Kumba Mela that Paramahamsa Nithyananda held in the USA was in 2006. He seeks to have the critical mass of the entire world's consciousness to be raised which would assure masses of people to seek Enlightenment ~ resulting in violence and ignorance and toxic living being at a bare miminum ~ and Mother Earth and ALL Creatures being saved from destruction by the insanity of the ignorant human species.

Vivekananda dressed in bright saffron robes and finished his entire mission by the age 39

There is one, HUGE difference between Vivekananda and Nithyananda. Vivekananda NEVER appealed to the ignorance of superstition, while Nithyananda's ENTIRE mythos depends on people believing in his supernatural powers. It puts him right in the gutter along with the prostitute Ramakrishna envisioned as being covered in filth as an illustration of the idea of siddhis.

HE does not make money out of meditation, rather the funds generated from meditation workshops go towards charitable causes. The ashrams in India feed thousands of poor people, provide them with free medical care, provide free meditation classes for poor school children and many more social service projects. People are always willing to pay readily to watch a movie or an entertainment show, or for a yoga class… but somehow when it comes to meditation if it is not free it is a crime!!! I don’t see the logic in that!! Even universities, whose aim is to educate people charge a lot of money! But everybody accepts that as completely normal and natural because its understandable that the university has expenses, it has to build and maintain infrastructure, it has to create and provide materials, etc. An ashram is also a university in its true sense. So why is it that a program or workshop offered by the ashram should always be free for everyone?!! I know personally that people who have been genuinely interested but cannot afford them have been allowed to do it free. I also know for a fact that there are many free programs conducted in the ashrams. This is possible because of those who can afford to pay for it.

Worst of all, brainwashes brainwashes people including younsters to elope with him to his ashram quitting their study/career. Children can become violent and dispbedient and just want to run away to his ashram.

Children become violent and disobedient for many other reasons too. If your teenage son or daughter wants to marry a person of his/her choice and you totally disapprove of it, if you try to force your will on them, you will see that they respond very negatively and will be disobedient. Does that mean the other person (whom they are interested in) has brainwashed them?!! But that situation and reaction is accepted as normal or natural by most people! So its okay and never becomes an issue of being brainwashed. But if a person finds extreme peace and bliss in the presence of a master and wants to enjoy it further by being in the ashram, then the master is accused of brainwashing!! What is so wrong about wanting to live in an ashram, wanting to work on oneself, wanting to experience bliss and wanting to find the limits of their true self?! Of course, that may not be your interest, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t interest your child! This is like saying “I don’t like beans, so my children will never have beans”!!! How ridiculous does that sound?!

He keeps people in a consstant state of depression and emotional abuse by asking them to cry all the times and medidtate about hoim all the times., think about him.

This is utter NONSENSE! I have attended his programs in US and in India ashram. The constant reminder, emphasis and basis of all his programs are BLISS, NOT depression. If you have suppressed emotions in you, they do come out when you do these intense meditation workshops. There are those who weep and go thro’ emotional swings. But that’s not because he is putting them in depression. The programs only help us become aware of it, pull out all our suppressed amotions from the subconscious and unconscious and make us work through them to get over them and go beyond them. If you go to a psychiatrist, he may attempt something similar… its called Catharsis!! But you don’t call the psychiatrist an emotional abuser because he is doing his job!!!

And nobody is asked to meditate on NIthyananda constantly. Even the healers who are initiated by him are told to drop his form when they do the healing… he tells them very clearly that they have to go beyond all forms, including his and become one with the formless existence!!

People abroad, USA, Malaysia & Canada , be careful. He can ruin a family, which no hindu guru would even dream to do. This is the letter of an anguished parent from Canada who has lost a wonderful daughter, who has quit her studies, psychologically wrecked, depressed and totally disobedient, behaves violently and I fear everyday she would run away to this man's ashram.He can convert an angel to a devil, this evil monster. A shame to any Hindu Guru.angusihed parents from Canada

CLEARLY, YOU HAVE NO DIRECT KNOWLEDGE OR EXPERIENCE OF HIM OR HIS TEACHINGS OR HIS PROGRAMS! READERS BEWARE OF FALLING PREY TO SUCH FALSE INFORMATION.

He would never ruin a family. I know many instances of husbands/wives who have wanted to become a part of the ashram, and he has told them to return to their spouse and children as they are their responsibility. He NEVER breaks up families, he NEVER talks or encourages his devotees or disciples to abandon responsibility. He only encourages them to take on more responsibility!!

Just because your child did not listen to your words or fulfill your expectations, you suddenly see the child has become a devil, and blaming him makes it all very nice and convenient for you to remain in your cozy world.

Worst conman who is brings a bad name for hindu gurus. Brainwahes people to join his ashram and give 10% of gross pay to him to get enlightenment.An emotional abuser.WARNING FOR EVERYONE>

Again, more bullshit to confuse casual readers!! I don’t think it says anywhere in their webpage or any of their material that you should pay 10% of your pay and you will get enlightenment in return! There is no material price for enlightenment. The real price is your willingness to be open, look into yourself and experiment with the truths revealed by so many masters for centuries. Another family ruined by associating with Nithayanada foundation and their followers. A good family was broken down like a sand castle with no foundation

If your castle broke down because of a beautiful breeze, it is you who needs to examine why the castle and its foundation was built of sand and not concrete!! You can’t blame the breeze for it!! Nithyananda is just the breeze that spreads the fragrance of truth through meditation. If you can’t handle the truth, the problem lies in you, not in the truth itself!! Stop blaming the world and start looking into yourself to find out what the real source of your misery is.If you really want to know the truth about Nithyananda and his teachings, experience them for yourself, first hand and then decide. Don’t go by the words of anyone on this posting, not me, not the anonymous posts, not anyone else!! If you don’t care enough to try it and find out for yourself, then it really doesn’t matter what anyone says here!! Believe what you want to believe… that’s what you do anyways, no matter what anyone says.

I do not understand why people are resorting to mud-slinging at Nthyananda all the time. If you believe him, then its your choice, otherwise, it would be right to leave him alone. Children, specifically teenagers often start turning violent. It is because of the hormonal changes in thier body. Isn't it too harsh to blame Nithyananda for all the evils of the world? "An angel to a devil". Those words itself seem too exaggerated. Was Nithyanda responsible for this? Or is it the circumstances in which the child is growing? Kindly do a self-anlysis. No teacher on this earth would like his students to become a brat.

Nithyananda has himself remarked that he would like to be called a fake. He has never restricted anyone from criticizing him. He has also clearly said that one ought not to believe a guru blindly. He has said that before criticizing others, one ought to clearly understand one's own shortcomings. Simply criticizing others without any valid evidence just to satisfy one's ego is amounting to cheating one's own self.

Dear Jody,you are obviously astute, and it's been interesting reading these posts.Nithyananda has stated thathe is not interested in blind followers; and you clearly areexempt from that category. Jody, there are a lot of desperate people thirsting for liberation from all types of anguish. They surrender to all types of things. Some surrender to the guru. Nithyananda's words can at first be felt as a shock, a threat and a wound to one's ego, ignorance and illusion. If one thirsts, desperately enough for liberation and has the unique fortune of clicking with a guru, over time, that shell of ignorance can crack, revealing one's Self to oneself. The fact that people claim to have experienced miracles (even if it means that they've simply become sensitive enough to perceive the ordinariness of what is, once the grip of illusion and imagination falls away), might explain why they attribute these to Nithyananda, might explain why people assign status to one who represents the state in which these miracles unfold. NithyanandamMaruta Ananda

Yet the miracle-mongering and space-daddy antics garner him blind followers in droves. And the ones who can actually see, some of whom were very close to him, are leaving him because he's selling out the truth in his effort to be bigger.

Yet the prospect of becoming sensitized to the miraculous and attuned to one's inner space, and of becoming at ease in the physical world while having one foot firmly planted in the inner world may well attract many to Him. None, who sees thru Him leaves Him.NythyanandamMaruta Ananda

Jody: Or, pumped full of the suggestion of miracles, which foment their own favorable interpretations of spurious subjective psychological phenomena.

Maruta: is it not mental machinations rather than "miracles, which foment..."?

Jody: Or, those who've drank too much Kool-Aid are doomed to be stuck in a sycophantic cycle of co-dependence.

Maruta: The message is the same. A glass of water is poured. What one sees in it, (what is progressively revealed),what one tastes, what one adds to it. and whether one favors the waterboy over the water...are these not personal 'choices'.

A glass of water is poured. What one sees in it, (what is progressively revealed)

Or, what is progressively suggested they see in it.

what one tastes, what one adds to it. and whether one favors the waterboy over the water...are these not personal 'choices'.

Those "personal choices" are laid out along a road, the path to divine guru sycophancy. Nithyananda claims a special status for himself because he is realized, a truth that affords no special status to anyone. He suggests that miracles happen around him due to his special nature, and those who choose to believe it generate their own confirmation of what he's promoting himself as – not because there is any truth to it, only because they happen to believe it.

MARUTA: To see, is enough.It is one message- repeated over and over. What is progressive, is dsillusionment.

Jody: Those "personal choices" are laid out along a road, the path to divine guru sycophancy. Nithyananda claims a special status for himself because he is realized, a truth that affords no special status to anyone. He suggests that miracles happen around him due to his special nature, and those who choose to believe it generate their own confirmation of what he's promoting himself as – not because there is any truth to it, only because they happen to believe it.

Maruta: Much of what goes on is steeped in a rich Vrdic tradition,and within that context it can be better understood and even appreciated.NithyanandamMaruta Ananda

Jody: It is one thing that needs to be said, over and over again, hopefully progressing us past the point where we need to believe in magic kings.

Maruta: Beautiful!

Jody: Ancient myths developed in relative scientific ignorance are only ancient myths developed in relative scientific ignorance.

Maruta: A scientist of the inner world with a healthy reverence for the power of myth, knows in what proportion to feed it those who are gradually being weaned off of an exclusive diet of it.NithyanandamMaruta Ananda

Jody: It is one thing that needs to be said, over and over again, hopefully progressing us past the point where we need to believe in magic kings.

Maruta: Beautiful!

The point that bears repeating is this: gurus like Nithyananda are constructions of myth and superstition rather than nondual truth, that realization does not render one a magic king as Nithyananda is presenting himself, and that any guru who presents themselves – or allows themselves to presented – as special, is doing grave harm to the discrimination of their devotees.

Jody: The point that bears repeating is this: gurus like Nithyananda are constructions of myth and superstition rather than nondual truth, that realization does not render one a magic king as Nithyananda is presenting himself, and that any guru who presents themselves – or allows themselves to presented – as special, is doing grave harm to the discrimination of their devotees.

Maruta: If, as you've said, many blind come, and some who see leave, then you're mainly questioning the master's methods.

The methods you employ on this site, (in a well-intentioned attempt, i presume, towards untruth-unrealization), are, likewise, met with mixed reviews; but as long as they are the tools that you've found most effective in that regard, unflattering reviews are hardly incentive to make you change them. Is your intent, here, solely to prove that you can malign another, or do you intend to also propose alternative techniques more favorable to Nithyananda's for helping the students, healers and devotees you apparently consider to be duped aspirant-victims?Have you succeeded in helping any of these people, by the way, yet?

Jody: "A scientist of the inner world" Is a bastardization of the word "scientist."

Maruta: No extra points for that one, i'm afraid. In its broadest sense, "science" (from the Latin scientia, meaning "knowledge") refers to any systematic knowledge or practice. (Wikipedia)The word "scientist" is being used in that sense. Please, let's not get stuck in etymology.

Yes, if the method is to foster the belief that he possesses supernatural powers that manifest as miracles, which certainly seems to be the case with Nithyananda.

The methods you employ on this site, (in a well-intentioned attempt, i presume, towards untruth-unrealization)

Is there such a thing as unrealization?

The fact that you either fail or don't want to recognize what my intention is with this site tells me that your role is not to understand, it is to run PR interference for Nithy.

unflattering reviews are hardly incentive to make you change them.

Especially when their intent was merely to smear, seeing as they are paid to do so by Sai Baba, Prem Rawat and various loonies I've encountered over my years as a commentator online.

do you intend to also propose alternative techniques more favorable to Nithyananda's

Nope, other than to express the fact that he is no more God than anyone else, that his realization does not imbue him with anything other than an ordinary truth of being, and that his miracle-mongering and aggressive self-promotion can sometimes do more to foster spiritual ignorance than what his techniques are able to remedy.

helping the students, healers and devotees you apparently consider to be duped aspirant-victims?

Duped in the sense that they are being led to believe realization comes with magic powers.

Have you succeeded in helping any of these people, by the way, yet?

Nithyananda's people? I don't think so. Other folk have kind words occasionally, so I mostly feel pretty darn good about what I'm doing here.

Jody: Yes, if the method is to foster the belief that he possesses supernatural powers that manifest as miracles, which certainly seems to be the case with Nithyananda.

Maruta: He does not claim ownership of or exclusive access to what is freely available to us all at all times.

Jody: Is there such a thing as unrealization?

Maruta: If one has been deluded (ie. if one has 'realized' an 'untruth'), isn't 'untruth un-realization' the antidote?

Jody: The fact that you either fail or don't want to recognize what my intention is with this site tells me that your role is not to understand, it is to run PR interference for Nithy.

Maruta: I do understand.

Jody: Nope, other than to express the fact that he is no more God than anyone else, that his realization does not imbue him with anything other than an ordinary truth of being, and that his miracle-mongering and aggressive self-promotion can sometimes do more to foster spiritual ignorance than what his techniques are able to remedy.

Maruta: Whenever someone stumbles upon a truth after much struggle, why not proclaim it; why not rejoice in it; why stifle the exuberance instead of proclaim that it is there for all to share? Why not shout it from the hilltoips at the top of one's lungs? Why not shout out, "I'm free!!! You too can be. Miracles, miracles, miracles, the miraculous! The Supernatural courses thru these veins, thru these nerves, pulsates, throbs and sustains All...I AM All. This Self is your Self, and you (each individuates particular one is One with The one God, in and as God. At Last...I taste it, and it bursts from within and without...envelops...Why Not?! Years and years of dead ends, and finally, BANG! Was it that easy for you, that the realization was overrated? Please excuse typos...there is no review process or editing here.

Jody: Duped in the sense that they are being led to believe realization comes with magic powers.

Maruta: Realization IS magical, mysterious, self-sacrifice, and so natural it's even Supernatural; so ordinary it's Extraordinary. Yes. call it Magic...why not? We're not talking about stage magic here. We're talking about...it's magic that a croisant turns to blood. All the world's magiciansd can't pull off such magic.

Jody: Nithyananda's people? I don't think so. Other folk have kind words occasionally, so I mostly feel pretty darn good about what I'm doing here.

Maruta: Yes...one feels good for helping people; but to feel good due to the endorsements is another thing. If you are so secure in what you're doing here that you can tell the difference between doing good ; and others telling you that you've done good, then you are a Great Seer.In Nithyanandammaruta ananda

Realization IS magical, mysterious, self-sacrifice, and so natural it's even Supernatural; so ordinary it's Extraordinary.

More horribly noxious ideas.

it's magic that a croisant turns to blood.

Are you miracle-mongering now?

you are a Great Seer.

No I'm not. I'm just a jerk with some considered opinions about the ideology and psychology of gurudom. I am convinced that the similes you just polluted my blog with are the strongest fetters my Lady Maya has got. Your guru is polluting spiritual culture with these ideas, imo. Not that a zillion gurus before him haven't done the same thing. It's called marketing. Claim that realization makes you special and jump up on that horse so the folks can bow far below you, all the while being blocked from seeing their own truth because they are too dazzled to see anything but their guru's bleached teeth.

I have a serious doubt about the legitimacy of this site's tagline and claims about " Revealing Self- Aggrandizement and Superstition in Self- Realization since 2005" Perhaps it needs to be analyzed a little more closely. The blog appears to consist of nothing more than gossips about all the gurus , both true and false without a real distinction of which is which. Just mere gossips about gurus for the sake of amusement. It is misleading to the general public to be called " Revealing Self-Aggrandizement and Superstition in Self- Realization since 2005"

When it comes to distinguishing the authenticity of a Guru , it takes more than biased opinion based on preconceived notions. For example, judging the authenticity of a guru based on age and looks. There is a well known saying " Don't judge a book by it's cover" It is too superficial to be judging a guru by his looks and age. It is true that there are not more than a handful of young Spiritual Teachers, but that doesn't mean that they are not authentic when their age is less than most other Spiritual teachers. Jesus started teaching in his homeland when he was about 29 years of age. Buddha started teaching when he was around 36, Yogananda Paramahamsa started his school at around 24 or 26 years of age. That's just to show that age is not a gauze to determine someone's qualification as a Guru. When it comes to analyzing someone's teaching, one needs to first grasp the right words as well as the meaning behind a a teacher's message before jumping to the conclusion. Also, one need to at lease meet with the person in question before determining their authenticity or qualification. It is perfectly fine for everyone to make casual judgements about gurus, but with the claim about" exposing self- aggrandizement and supersitition since 1995 " on the website's tag line one needs to be a little more responsible when it comes to making claims and judgements. If this blog is a mere past time for the sake of amusement without any weight behind it, perhaps one should consider changing the tag line as it can be misleading to the general public.

I've provided examples when mentioning biased preconceived notions. For example, judging a guru's legitimacy based on his age and looks, judging before fully grasping his message , judging someone's legitimacy before even meeting him once.

Although " comedic relief from the overwhelming seriousness of gurudom " is welcomed, it is not recommended that you do it while claiming to be "revealing" self-aggrandizement and superstition since 2005. That is an exaggeration, and a misleading one.

Let's just assume that one can determine a guru's legitimacy by merely surveying his/her statements about spirituality. But it is clear from your above discussion that you don't fully grasp his concepts of mind. Just because one can't fully grasp the message, it doesn't naturally meant that the teacher or the teaching is invalid.

I did not have the notion that you can make a clear determination based on just one meeting. But that is the very least you can do to provide your audience with reliable claims and announcements. There is a big difference between gossiping vs. claiming to "reveal" Self- Aggrandizement and Superstition in Self- Realization since 2005. With that claim one needs to provide more than just personal opinions and hasty judgement. Unless, that claims too is a hasty one as well.

it is clear from your above discussion that you don't fully grasp his concepts of mind.

Or perhaps you've projected something into that concept you aren't seeing reflected in my very mild criticism.

I did not have the notion that you can make a clear determination based on just one meeting. But that is the very least you can do to provide your audience with reliable claims and announcements.

Such is not possible for numerous reasons. However, most of my audience doesn't require it, as you are the first to complain about that.

There is a big difference between gossiping vs. claiming to "reveal" Self- Aggrandizement and Superstition in Self- Realization since 2005.

I show where a guru or his employees claim s/he is God, and I have revealed self-aggrandizement. I show were a guru or her/his employees claim magic powers for their "God," and I've revealed superstition. The great thing about the internet is there's something for everyone. If this isn't for you, you can find any number of online hagiographic portraits to amuse yourself with.

Because the readers doesn't require it, does it mean that the claims in this blog doesn't have to be legitimate and credible? If that is the case then indeed this is not the site for anyone to be wasting time on.

If I had made one mistake in my life, that is when I started regarding Sri Nithyananda as my Guru. I used to regard him as God reincarnate and was so much into it, that everything else seemed trivial. I had seen him abuse everyone around him. People had told me that a spiritual soul is one who has total control over krodha. I ignored their remarks. Today, I know that the organization called Dhyanapeetam sells spirituality at a heavy price and one should definitely appreciate the fact that Sri Nithyananda is a very efficient business man. He should have been deputed for taking classes at IIM or Harvard.

Nithyananda conducts frequent classes in leading engineering institutions in India. During such classes he mesmerizes young people in the age group of 18 to 25, all of them, young engineers/doctors to join his clan. If you attend his classes, you will understand that he scintillates his voice to such an extent at the time of meditation process, that people who have a high level of emotional quotient practically feel an instant urge to abandon the material world. He keeps repeating “Throw yourself into my arms. I am the Ultimate.” I know from personal experience that he is an adept in mind-reading. In his ashram the young disciples have to toil until two in the night before getting any sleep. If you ask them about it, they say that they consider it as the greatest blessing since they are able to serve their Guru. Practically any onlooker would think that they are his slaves. They consider him as Para Brahmam which means the Ultimate. They also refer to him as an incarnation of Lord Shiva. They frequently tell stories of how he saw Lord Shiva in his ashram one day while he was standing in his balcony early at 5 o’ clock in the morning. If he was an incarnation of Lord Shiva, then how did he see himself below the balcony? I would suggest that he and his clan decide for themselves what stand to take in front of the public and not keep giving contradictory statements.

Nithyananda definitely has acquired some powers due to the intense meditation he had undertaken over the years As far as the lay man in India is concerned, he is a determined young man who is hell bent on wrecking the lives of several young engineers and doctors across the country preaching the philosophy of bliss and making them lead lives in a make-believe world he has created for them. But it is not clear as to why people should resort to such things. If he has attained enlightenment, then well and good. Keep it to yourself. Why ruin others lives? In the long run, may be two/three of his disciples may attain enlightenment. He has already declared that twenty five of his disciples are enlightened. In what sense, God alone knows. Beware Jody. He has already threatened people who write against him stating that they would face their doom. Divine wrath would befall them and they would face their end. He had said so about the journalists in India.

Dear Suresh,Ravi, I understand that you do not like Paramahamsa Sri Nithyanada for some reason. A guru is above God. All true gurus are pure manifestations of the divine self. They are the Ultimate. You have to come in close contact with such souls to understand their true self and your true self. As my guru had remarked "Try to look into your self and try to discover the divinity within you". You too are divine, my brothers. So do not leap in frustration. God sends us all to this earth for a cause. Try to discover the cause.

The people in the ashram do things not because they are obligated to do something, or because someone made them. Nor are they driven by personal unquenchable greed and endless desires. Let's face it, people in the world work everyday, but many do it out of obligations or to support our endless array of desires. This kind of doing doesn't bring fulfillment or lasting contentment in life. In the ashram, no one is obligated to do a particular duty or a certain amount of work. Each contribute according to the unique attribute that each one carry within them. It is not about how much work you do but how you do it. Since they are not required or obligated to work, they are even more motivated to do so. When they do something, it is because they enjoy doing it. When you do something that you enjoy, you just become absorb in what you're doing. It is where work is play, and play is work. It feels like you are just enjoying your hobby. The enjoyment of the activity itself is the reward. It is not about sufferring and waiting for a salary at the end of the month, or waiting for a reward in the future. Rather it is about enjoying the path itself. Meaning being aware and absorb in what you are doing without going into the past and future or worrying about the outcome. That kind of doing doesn't make you feel bored or tired . Just look at how children are at play. They don't do it out of greed, fear , or obligation. They can be so into what they are doing that they forget about coming in for dinner and don't want to stop when you call them in. In this kind of doing you only feel freedom and enjoyment. And indeed, it is a blessing to be able to do things because you want to and enjoy doing .

Just as there are Osama Binladen , there are also Christ who was misunderstood and wrongly accused because people listen to his acusers blindly. It is a fallacy in logic to make the hasty generalization that because false gurus exist, therefore all gurus must be false.

Before believing in what someone say, whether it be towards one side or the other,it is best to analyze for ourselves. So far, when you closely analyze the legitimacy of the claims in this blog, it is not a good source of reference. Judging a guru based on looks and age just doesn't cut it for me. I don't want any chances of following a Judas by mistake. Falsely acusing a guru is a disservice not a service to anyone/ soul.

"Just as there are Osama Binladen , there are also Christ who was misunderstood and wrongly accused ....

The whole center of this blog is not "accusing" gurus or accusing gurus whom the blogger thinks otherwise..

But the core of this blog is up against "self-promoting gurus"

please note that point. Christ never promoted himself. When he cured a blind man he told him "don't tell any one" because then there will be a line up outside his house and people will make him a medic instead of the spiritual path which he wanted to show.

Similiarly was Ramakrishna Paramahansa and Shirdi saibaba, they were simple, humble and unpretentious.

Please dont get angry, upset, biased or prejudiced about the blog. Treat it with all spiritual fairness and calm.

Take Nithyananda..His he guru? of what sorts? Let us see his objectives..(my opinion)

1. Attract people to his fold - use all channels, method, media, concepts and reach techniques to attract people.

Develop a systematic knowledge of what people desperately want and fine tune his and his organizations output and behavior solely for the purpose of attracting more and more people into it.

read this blog by a self styled MA..http://anandagandha.blogspot.com/search/label/Ma%20Nithyananda%20Meera

Promote, Promote, Promote...

2. Retain retain people into his fold by the above techniques. Keep them happy "blissfully" by reading lot of books from Zen philosophy to the panchatantra. and use it in his discourses

You answer me one question

Which guru wears gold, silk and silver and gives a pose to photograph like that??

Gold?? Silk?? Tavera Car with a silk towel on his seat?? (I saw him at bidadi)

Last thing...If you are satisfied with him then please continue..you need not read further...

We are a different breed of people unlike you...and you are not wanted here you may please go away from here (From this blog)

From what I read, Krishna decided to be born on the ashtami day to prove to the world that spirituality can be pursued by a person of the world, while still leading a material life of comfort. It is very much in this tradition of Krishna's philosophy that Nithyananda preaches today the concept of Quantum Spirituality where materialism and spirituality meet, seamlessly combining material success sand spiritual evolution. There is no need to make a choice, Nithyananda says, between normal life and material goals of family, career , money and success that one seeks and spiritual values of renunciation and perceiving the rest of he world to be one's own. This concept has changed the lives of many who have heard Nithyananda, by removing the feeling of guilt of having to make a choice.

Renunciation is a tool to help your remove Attachment to desires and objects of desires ( ie. people, places, and things) . Once all attachments are gone, a person can live with or without these object of desires without bondage .

It is not necessary that you become attach to renunciation , it is just a tool . If you let go of the material life, but become attach to the spiritual life, then you are still bound.

It is said that the Dharma is like a raft to help you cross the ocean of samsara, but once it has helped you crossed to the other side, don't carry the raft with you. It then becomes another burden.

However , some may choose to remain to live a renounced life even after overcoming all attachments to desires, it is up to them and perfectly fine. But it is not an absolute must.

I, code named YogAroodha, hereby declare that I tested Nithyananda when toured USA in 2009. He failed my test. In addition he promised me a particular thing will happen, which did not happen. Therefore, after waiting well over a month to give more time to this miracle worker, I decided to declare a him a liar. For more details, see YouTube video comments "Holy Hooker from India".

Jody, I really thank you for bringing fact to light about this FAKE FRAUD GURU "PARAMAHANSA NITHYANANDA", I watched few of his videos, his manner of speaking, his movements and how he refers to himself etc. Without doing much I know he is cheating himself, rather than cheating everyone (According to advaita there is only one "I" in the entire universe, so if he is cheating and faking...then he is cheating & faking himself..) All the best MR NITHYANANDA

I have truly begun to doubt all these gurus who go around the world on tours having luxurious buildings in places like LA. In the first place for a truly realized person there is no need to establish Peetams or Monastries or Ashrams. If somebody is truly realized you can clearly tell them apart form their ways. They always speak the truth. Unfortunaly many modern so called Indian Gurus like to please all there devotees and they want to keep them happy by giving false hopes.

I have personally studied Yajur Vedam, one of the Vedic sciences from my Grandfather. I used to remember my Grandfather talk about Ramana Maharshi, a real saint, who wouldn't even care to cover his body. Such are the truly realized people.

Moreover, a truly realized person never goes out to explain all the vedic principles to all common people. These principles have been provided to a select few and it needs to be given only to qualified persons whom a Guru actually recognizes as fit enough. I do not see any such traits with him.

People in the present day want fast results. They want everything to be happy around them. That is why they have started seeking solace in some living masters. Some of these masters after gaining a little bit of knowledge or some spiritual experience begin to declare themselves as Realized etc etc. What people should understand is, enduring all the sufferings with Truth and honesty is itself the greatest realization one can ever get. My Grandfather was an Astrologer and a gread Vedic Pundit, he never used to charge any money from anybody, and not to mention his predictions sometimes used to be so very accurate. Despite all this, his simple advice to me was follow Truth and Honesty. Do not harm anybody. Lead a life that is prescribed in the Vedic scriptures. This itself I think is the greatest promise the Indian Vedic texts have declared.

People are now interest in getting Instant results and these masters are making a good business out of it.

Let me conclude by saying that, these are purely my thoughts and I am not trying to insult or slander anybody. I do not believe in doing that. Truth will always triumph. Lord Krishna states in Bagavat Gita clearly that whenever there is a fall in Dharma,he will appear on this earth to uphold it. Krishnam Vande Jagatgurum. Who else is a greater teacher than Lord Krishna himself.

There is a story about a serial bank robber who when asked by the Sherif, why does he keep robbing banks, the man replied "because that is where the money is".So my friends, ask yourself the question "why do indian swamis settle down in America?" the answer is "because that is where the wealthy credulous live". The day when a swami opens an asram in Zimbabwe and settles down in Harare to raise the spiritual consciousness of the black Africans, that would be the day I might start to take them seriously.Does anyone know the hindu translation of "there is one mug born every day"?

I guess he is a man of black magic. I dont know how he is able to change the mind of people. GOD should save people from this type of person. Some one should take action to stop this type of cult. I am not sure why govt is allowing such people to enter country for this purpose. Some one ought to do something to stop this

I have met some of his baramacharyas and seen them lost where i once was, deeply infatuated by him and his teachings, alienated from 'normal' people in society, and most likely in delusion. I spent many months in a great delusion seeking enlightenment, propelled by an incresing feeling of acceptance and inner peace for which i credited Nithyananda. One day i saw through it and was liberated from Nithyananda. though life has taken a turn in my own direction, I have left with a lesson, which, perhaps coincidentally, lay alongside my journey with him. It was pure desire...to become something i am not, to understand with my logic the meaning of life the universe and everything. I saw it raw, for what it was, just pure desire, and i therefore hold no grudge, i was my own person, i was free, it had been my choice all along...so i disagree with the brainwashing idea. It was an adventurous journey where i lived in many different and imagined planes of consciousness....this is the power of the mind, the reality you see is your dream, one change in your mental setup and the reality is completely different..truth? Another valuable lesson, and an integral part of yoga. If you are suffering you are in delusion.I think of his followers that i have met and feel sad to think they were in the same state as i, knowing that they can be freed by their own intelligence, but if i can be, so can they, they are not yet ready and are happy in delusion. And anyways, why is this such a problem?????? In the current state of the world, is it not a positive thing that people are living blissfully and peacefully in la la land, as long as they are causing no harm...these people dont eat as much food, use less power and are encouraged to look within, the art of yoga of not seeking pleasure from sense objects, realising that it is in your hands to be fulfilled, you have the switch, turn it on or off, your choice....shall i be angry or happy, shall i fight or accept...your choice, your responsilbiliy always. These people are learning to be blissful without the search, and he says give up the search, for you imagine a state and search for it, you are sure to suffer. They are learning the principles of non violence and non possesiveness. Ok if you are dogamatic about these teachings you will object to his interpretations...but for the many people who are not attracted to buddhism, he introduces them in a different way. He adds juice to the teachings for people who would otherwise neglect them.

In a modern age of advertising, he can almost be seen as a glamerous ad for spirituality...scandalous you may say but harmful? not really! ok many may not get the message and remain deluded by the glitter, like i was, but many will too. He has many teachings which grab you, suck you in because he understands the nature of your desire..powerful indeed. If you are intelligent, you will then see then see how vulnerable and malleable you are...This has been a valuable lesson. I do not hate him for this. If you have been in a similar situation, and have come to the conclusion that he has ruined you life, then you just have not got it. If your life can be ruined in the hands of another, then the truth is not for you. The secrets of the himalayas, are just not your cup of tea.I see the point of view that some followers do have this mental setup whereby they judge the world according to his teachings and not by their own senses, but you must see that what is actually happening is their own sense of what they have interpreted from him selectively according to the desires by which he has grasped them. they will suffer and they will learn, and it will havebeen their choice and responsibility. it is their journey and their choice, This is life, suffering then wisdom then suffering, then wisdom.

He is introducing meditation in a dumber form for those who cannot sit with themselves...in order so that eventually they will...again how can this be problematic??? One of the greatest joys in life is to sit and know that you are. We search constantly, forgetting that the gift is life itself..he points to this.Look at all the shit in this world and ask honestly why this is happening, because most of us are not happy just to be, not realising that the gift is life itself...so we search for riches, we seek to change the way others live their lives so we can feel better about out own, we search for titles and prestige, for some guru or master to tell us we are ok...and in this age we all those things are there, available for us to have, but fulfilment is in your hands. So this is why I do not care if he is enlightened or not, if he has sex with multiple partners or not, if his fairytale life is a lie or not...It is not about who he is or what he does, but about the message, which is fundamentally the same as the message of all spiritual teachers. Just sit and know that you are God....or part of God, or whatever suits you..the gift is life itself. If you want to appreciate it you will.

" Movies are individual frames in sequence. This suggests a sequential aspect to the generation of the idea of "me", as Ramakrishna used to call it. We find this to be self-evident from the regard of the individual point of view. "

This you may want to compare with Ramanmarshi's quote on 13th July 1935. Roughly translated to English as

There are pictures moving on the screen. Go and hold them.What do you hold? It is only the screen. Let the pictures disappear.What remains over? The screen again. So also here. Even whenthe world appears, see to whom it appears. Hold the substratumof the I’. After the substratum is held what does it matter if theworld appears or disappears?

.... An appropriate name for your blog could have been Neti Neti.— Rama

While we understand that gurus are held sacred by many, they
are also public figures deserving of scrutiny. Our primary aim
is to inject a little humor into what can be an excessively
self-righteous enterprise, and to illustrate the primary truth that
no matter how divine their devotees believe them to be, gurus
poop on the same pot we do.